Dispensing machine escapement mechanism



C. C. KUHL.

DISPENSING MACHINE ESCAPEMENT MEGHANISM la, 19411.Y

Filed Aug. 5', 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l ha f.

NVENTOR.

ATTORNEYJ.

March 18, 1941. C, Q KUHL 2,235,641

DISPENSING MACHINE ESCAPEMENT MEGHNISM Filed Aug. 5. 15a/39 2sheets-sheet 2 INVENTQR. HAL5 C.

Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED sins BESPENSENG MACHINE ESCAPEMENTT/[ECHANISM Charlet C. Kuhl, South Eend, Ind. Application August 3',1939, Serial No. 288,100

1i Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing machine escapement mechanism, andmore particularly to means for operating a rotatable member of adispensing machine as illustrated in my copending application, SerialNo. 238,101, filed August 3, 1939, step-by-step in a series of partialrotating movements.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means for rotating arotatable member to a predetermined extent in one direction only uponeach operation.

A further object is to provide a device oi this character having arotatable member with means for preventing spinning of said member,

A further object is to provide a device cf this character having arotatable member, with means for rotating said member which engage saidmember at its periphery for driving connection therewith.

Other objects Will be apparent from the clescription and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary `side view of the device with the casing shownin section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the device taken online 2-2 of Fig. 3, and viewed from the lower end of the dispenser reel.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the device in normalposition.

Fig. 4 is an yenlarged fragmentary top plan View of the device inpartial operating position.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrates the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the numeral I0 designates an insulated casing or housingfor the dispenser, and` II a storage or cooling chamber in the lower endof said casing. A frame is mounted in the case and includes uprights I2and suitable horizontal cross bars I3 between said uprights.

A shaft I4 is carried by suitable mounting members I5 supported on crossbars I 3, said shaft being inclined. Upon the shaft I il is journaled areel I6 adapted to carry a plurality of bottles I1. Reel I6 preferablycomprises an elongated hub I8 journaled in shaft I t and carrying aplurality of equi-spaced partition plates I9 radially projectingtherefrom, said plates extending parallel to shaft I4. 'I'he outer endsof plates Iii are connected together by and carry an outer peripheralmember 20 preferably of polygonal outline or shape. Plates I9 andperipheral member 20 provide a plurality of radially inwardly tapered,elongated compartments into which bottles I'I freely lit. Longitudinalguides 2| may be lower end of the reel, and an inclined discharge trough22 may extend from said discharge means to and through casing Il). 'I'heouter peripheral member 2t carries a` plurality of elongated,circumferentially larranged projecting members 23.

Members 23 are equal in number to they number 1'0' of bottlecompartments, and each is centered relative to one of said compartments.Each of the members 23 is set at a slight angle relative to truecircumferential position whereby the adjacent ends of adjacent membersare slightly off- 15 set from each other as illustrated in Figs. 3 and4. The members 23 are also slightly circumferentially spaced oppositethe outer ends of partitions lil. For purposes of clarity, and referringsolely to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, those members 23 which are 20 juxtaposed tothe escapement mechanism to be hereinafter described will be referred toas 23a, 23h, 23C, and 23d.

A pair of spaced parallel guide bars 24 are car-` ried by the frame I2,I3 adjacent the upper end 25 thereof and extend transversely of shaftI4. One member 24 is positioned slightly above the other, with the angleof inclination of the plane between` said members parallel to the axisof shaft I4. The intermediate portions 25 of 24 are curved concentric ofshaft I4 and are positioned in slightly spaced relation above realprojections 23. Portions 25 of guide members 24 are each provided withguide means, such as slots 2S, at their inner faces. 35

A block or shoe 2'! of a width substantially equal to the spacingbetween guides 24 is posi` tioned between portions `25 of said guides,and has suitable guides thereon (not shown) slidably engaging in slots2li whereby said shoe 21 is slidable 40 between guides 24 to an extentlimited by the ends of slots 26.

A bellcrank lever 28 is pivoted intermediate itsI ends at 29 at one endof shoe 2l. Lever 28 carries an upwardly projecting stud 3l) at one endthereof and to this stud 39 is connected a bracket 3i to which one endof a suitable operating cable 32 is connected. An elongated coil spring33 is connected at one end to stud 30 and 50 extends in opposed relationto cable 32 with its outer end connected to the frame. A stop 34 carriedby the shoe 2'! serves to limit thepivotal movement of member 28 byspring 33 to the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 3; so that55 members 30A spring 33 may also act to normally position the shoe 21as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

At the end of shoe 21 opposite lever 23 a dog 35 is pivoted at 35, saiddog extending beyond the end of shoe 21 and terminating in a downwardlyextending lug 31. A spring 38 secured at its ends to dog 35 and shoe 21serves to normally position said dog longitudinally of the shoe and inalignment with the rear end of adjacent reel projection 23a. A dog 39 ispivoted to the shoe 21 at 4|] in laterally spaced relation to dog 35.Dog 39 projects beyond the end of shoe 21 and is provided with adownwardly bent lug 4| at its free outer end. Lug 4| is perpendicular todog 39, but is twisted whereby its lower end extends at an angle to thelongitudinal with respect to said dog. The leading edge of lug 4|engages the side of the reel projection 23a slightly in advance of lug31, while the trailing edge portion of lug 4| extends across the frontedge of the succeeding reel projection 23D for purposes to be set forth.Dog 39 carries an upwardly projecting lug 42 intermediate its ends atits outer side. A spring 43 is connected at its ends to stop 34 and dog39 to normally urge said dog in the direction of dog 35 and against reelprojection 23a with respect to which its pivot v45 projects downwardlyfrom one longitudinal 49 is laterally olf-set.

In spaced relation to the end of shoe 21 which mounts member 28, alocking bar 44 is slidably mounted by guides 25 transversely thereof. Alug edge of bar 44 intermediate guides 25. A transverse upwardlyextending lug 45 is also carried by bar 44 adjacent the free end ofmember 28. A spring 41 extending between lug 46 and adjacent guide 25serves to normally position the bar 44 in full line position of Fig. 3,to position lug 45 in engagement with the leading edge of reelprojection 23o.

A second locking bar 48 is spaced from bar 44 in counter rotationaldirection, and is slidable between guides 25 transversely thereof. Bar48 carries a lug 49 projecting perpendicularly downwardly therefrom andtwisted or bent to position its lower end at an angle to thelongitudinal dimension of bar 48. A spring 59 connected at its ends toguide 25 and bar 43 serves to urge bar 48 in opposite direction to theaction of spring 41 with respect to bar 44. In normal spring pressedposition of bar 48, the lug 49 extends adjacent to and in alignment withthe rear edge of reel projection 23e and is urged into engagement withthe side of the leading end portion of the next succeeding reelprojection 23d.

Forwardly spaced from the normal inoperative position of lug 42 of dog39 a distance equal to or slightly greater than the length of a reelprojection 23 is a stop member 5| carried by guide 25 adjacent dog 39.Stop 5| has an inwardly extending cam projection 52 adapted to beengaged by lug 42 of dog 39 for purposes to be set forth.

The operation of the device is as follows: In normal inoperativeposition of the parts, lug 4| of dog 39 and lug 45 of locking bar 44engage or extend transversely across the leading edges of reelprojections 23h and 23o respectively, and serve to hold the reel againstrotation in one direction. Lug 31 of dog 35 and lug 49 of locking bar 48engage or extend transversely across the trailing edges of reelprojections 23a and 23C, respectively, and serve to hold the reelagainst rotation inthe opposite direction. Hence the reel is heldsolidly against any movement to discharging position, regardless ofshaking or rough handling of the device.

To actuate the device, the cable 32 must be pulled, as by suitable meansexteriorly of casing I9 which is preferably coin controlled. Initialpull on cable 32 serves to pivot the lever 23 to dotted line position inFig. 3 whereby the free end of said lever engages lug 46 of locking bar44 to shift it against the action of spring 41 to the dotted lineposition illustrated wherein lug 45 thereof is laterally shifted withrespect to the leading edge of reel projection 23C. Thereafter,continued pull on cable 32 Serves to slide the shoe 21 on guides 25, andthereby rotate the reel by virtue of engagement of lug 31 of dog 35 withthe trailing edge of reel projection 23a. Before movement of the shoe 21sufficient to disengage lug 46 of locking bar 44, the reel projection23o will have vbeen shifted with its leading edge beyond lug 45 so thatlug 45 bears against the side of said projection and locking bar 44 isrendered inoperative. The lug 4| of dog 39, being moved by shoe 21, doesnot interfere with reel rotation by means of said shoe. Thus, when thecable has been moved substantially onefhalf of its operative movement,the parts will assume the positions illustrated in Fig. 4, with lugs 31and 4| remaining in their normal relation to reel projections 23a and23h, lug 45 bearing against an intermediate portion of reel projection23o at one side thereof and lug 49 bearing against an intermediateportion of reel projection 25d at the side thereof opposite lug 45. Eachof lugs 45 and 49 are spring pressed against their respective reelprojections.

When cable 32 has been operated for substantially the full extent of itsoperating movement, lug 42 of dog 39 engages cam 52 of stop 5|, so thatconcluding movement of shoe 21 serves to pivot lug 4| of dog 39laterally outwardly clear of the leading end of reel projection 23h. Atthe same time dog 39 is being so pivoted, the trailing end of reelprojection 23d will have passed lug 49, thereby permitting locking bar49 to assume its normal position behind the trailing edge of projection23d urged by spring 5i). The shoe 21 is moved only slightly beyond thepoint at which lug 48 engages cam 52. After the cable has completed itsmovement and is released, spring 33 urges shoe 21 and its associatedparts to normal position. During this return movement of the shoe thelugs 31 and 4| ride on opposite sides of projection 23D.

The reel cannot be spun or freely rotated regardless of the speed ormanner with which cable 32 is pulled or jerked, by reason of theposition of the various lugs 31, 4|, 45 and 49 with respect to the reelprojections 23, nor can said reel be rotated through an angle lgreaterthan that between adjacent reel partitions I9 on any one cableoperation. The lug 45, bearing on the side of projection 23e afterinitial movement of shoe 21, is positively positioned in advance ofprojection 23d to prevent forward spinning, and lug 49 bearing againstthe side of lug 23d is positioned behind the projection 23C to preventreverse spinning. Also, the arrangement of the parts is such that if thecable is only partially operated and then released, as with intent toobtain a new purchase for the purpose of actuating the reel more thannormal operative extent, the reel will strictly follow the movement ofshoe 21, and will be reversely rotated to starting position by reason ofthe location of lug 4| forwardly of reel projection 23D. It will thusbeV observed that the escapement mechanism guards against any type ofmanipulation for the purpose of pilfering the reel, assuming, of coursethat suitable coin control means are associated with the cable operatingmechanism to prevent unauthorized repetitive complete operations of saidcable.

In order to permit iilling of the reel which may require free rotationthereof, the dog 39 and locking bar 44 `may be shifted to inoperativepositions by suitable means (not shown) positioned interiorly of thecasing Iii to be accessible only by an authorized attendant.

I claim:

1. The combination with a rotatable member having a plurality ofcircumferentially arranged peripheral projections positioned at an angleto the direction of rotation of said member, of a guide positionedadjacent the periphery of said member, a carrier slidable on said guide,means for actuating said carrier a predetermined eX- tent, a springpressed member pivoted to said carrier and normally engaging thetrailing edge of one projection, and means for returning said carrier tonormal position whereby said pivoted member rides along the succeedingprojection to a position therebehind.

2. The construction dened in claim l, and means for stopping saidrotatable member upon predetermined movement of said carrier.

3. The construction dened in claim l, and a second spring pressed memberpivoted to said carrier and normally extending in front of one of saidprojections.

4. The construction defined in claim 1, including a second springpressed member pivoted to said carrier and normally extending in frontof one of said projections, and means on said guide engaged by saidsecond member for stopping said carrier and shifting said second memberlaterally of said last named projection.

5. The combination with a rotatable member having a plurality ofcircumferentially arranged peripheral projections each positioned at anangle to the direction of rotation of said member, of a guide positionedadjacent the periphery of said member, a carrier slidable on said guidebetween predetermined limits, means for actuating said carrier, a springpressed propeller pivoted to said carrier and normally engaging the rearend of one projection in laterally spaced relation to the succeedingprojection, a spring pressed retarder pivoted to said carrier andnormally positioned in front of the front edge of a projection, andmeans for laterally swinging said retarder clear of said last namedprojection at one limit of travel of said carrier, and means forreturning said carrier to its opposite limit of travel.

6. The construction `dened in claim 5, and means carried by said guideand extending transversely of and adjacent the forward end of aprojection upon engagement of said retarder with said swinging means.

7. The combination with a rotatable member having a plurality ofcircumferentially arranged peripheral projections positioned at an angleto the direction of rotation of said member, of a guide positionedadjacent the periphery of said member, a carrier slidable on said guide,a spring 70 pressed member pivoted on said carrier, propelling meansconnected with said pivoted memberin opposition to said spring, lockingmeans shiftably carried by said guide adjacent said pivoted member andnormally positioned in front of one of said projections, said pivotalmember laterally shifting said locking means upon initial actuation ofsaid propelling means and thereafter shifting said carrier, and means onsaid carrier engaging one of said projections to shift said membertherewith.

8. The construction dened in claim 7, wherein said locking means isspring pressed for return to locking relation with respect to thesucceeding projection upon shifting of said carrier for disengagement ofsaid pivoted member with said locking means.

9. The construction deiined in claim 7, and a second locking membershiitably carried by said guide positioned behind a projection andspring pressed against the side of the front portion of the succeedingprojection.

l0. The combination with a rotatable member having a plurality ofcircumferentially arranged spaced projections, a stationary guide memberhaving a curved portion substantially concentric with the periphery ofsaid rotatable member, actuating means shiftable on said curved guideportion and engaging a projection for rotating said member, stop meanscarried by said stationary member and engageable with a projection forlimiting rotation of said member by said actuating means and meanscarried byy said actuating means for disengaging said stop means uponinitial operation of said actuating means.

l1. The construction defined in claim 10, and means carried by thecurved` portion. of said guide member and engageable with a projectionfor restraining said member from reverse rotation upon return of saidactuating means.

12. The combination dened in claim 10, and means carried by saidactuating means and normally positioned in advance of one of saidprojections to limit speed of rotation of said member to conform to thespeed of said actuating means.

13. The combination with a rotatable member having a plurality ofcircumferentially arranged spaced projections each extending at an angleto the direction of rotation of said member, a stationary guide memberjuxtaposed to the periphery of said rotatable member, a carrier slidableon said guide, a bell-crank pivoted to said carrier, an actuating memberconnected to one end of said bellcrank, a spring connected to saidbellcrank in opposition to said actuating member, a spring pressedlocking member slidable transversely of .said carrier by said bellcrankand having a part `normally positioned in alignment with the front endof a. projection., a second locking member slidable transversely of saidcarrier positioned in alignment with the rear end of a projection andspring pressed against the side of an adjacent projection, and means onsaid carrier and engaging adjacent ends of adjacent projections forshifting said rotatable member with said carrier, said actuating membershifting said carrier after initially pivoting said bellcrank.

14. The construction defined in claim 13, wherein said last named meansincludes a shiftable member normally positioned in alignment with thefront end of a projection; 4and means on said guide spaced from thenormal position of said shiftable member a distance substantially equalto the length of a projection and adapted to be engaged by saidshiftable member to laterally shift the same.

CHARLES C. KUHL,

